Top 5 - Unusual jobs in sport

Top 5 - Unusual jobs in sport by Michael Cheary Getting a job in sport doesnt necessarily mean becoming a PE TeacherTheres a whole host of weird and wonderful ways to combine your passion for sport with a days work. Here are five of our favourites:5. WaterboyAlso known as: Water Carrier, Water Distribution Engineer and H20 Quality Technician. The job is occasionally given to younger team members and athletes, although some are dedicated to the profession. Always remember the three Hs: Hydration, Hydration and, errm, Hydration.4. Horse MasseuseEven horses fancy a rub down once in a while. Great for relieving equine stress, and post-injury rehabilitation. This position is perfect if you love horses, and youre a hands-on person. However, it will require a degree of training. Nobody wants a hoof to the head.3. Golf ball diverEver wonder what happens to all the golf balls you hit into the water hazard? Professional golf ball divers can gather thousands of stray balls in one day, and then sell them back to golf clubs and retailers. Can be dangerous (snakes, alligators, angry birds), and theres little to no visibility while working. On the plus side, at least youre not a caddy.2. MascotFred the Red. Wenlock. World Cup Willie. The job of professional sports mascot can take many forms. Most of them, however, include dressing in a 100lb suit and dancing around in front of thousands of people. Advantages: pitch-side view, crowd interaction, no-one knows who you are. Disadvantages: youll sweat. A lot.1. TapperNot all unusual jobs in sport involve dressing up as a dinosaur. A Tapper (also known as a Sighted Sports Guide) assists blind swimmers, using a pole to tap the athlete to inform them that theyre approaching the end of a length. The contact needs to be made with split second timing, and can prove to be the difference between a winning or losing swim. Total trust is needed, as is the ability to time taps with stroke movement and momentum. So, slightly more pressure than a WaterboyHonourable Mentions: Director of obscure sport (see Extreme Ironing), Director of sport in obscure country (see Kiribati Islands), Crash Test Dummy, England Manager.Think theres any weve missed? Tell us below, or alternatively, share them with us on twitter @reedcouk.